Abrasive composition



' UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

aosnrn A. unmmn. or. snarrrn, wnsnmc'ron.

ABRASIVE COLlIIOSITION.

1,381,728. a No Drawing. Application filed April 29 To all w/wm'z't mayconcern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH A. "MENARD, a citizen of the-United State's,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Abrasive Composi- Itions, of which the following isa specification.

This invention pertainsv to compositions. of abrasive character forgrindin or lapping, polishing or finishingmetal ic bodies and surfacesgenerally, and has for its primary purpose the grinding, lapping orfinishing of journals, bearings, slides, ways, valve seats and plugs,and the'like,-to produce a fine working fit, to redu'ceto a miniof theinvention resides in the production of a composition which, when first"applied to or introduced between surfaces or bodies,

one or both of which it is desired to bring to a high degree of finish,shall, upon relative movement of such bodies, have a grind.-

ing or abradin action or effect, but which,

under continue rubbing or workin of the opposed surfaces, shall lose itsa rading qualities and become a measurably efficient" lubricant.

, It is desirable that the composition be of stable character. so'thatit may be kept in stock or on hand, be shipped long distances orsubjected to varying climatic conditions, without undergoing change, yetbe ready, or capable of being made read at short notice, for applicationand use. 0 this end TI first form a base, comprising the dry-elements.or ingredients of the composition, which are combined and thoroughlycomled, and at the time ofor just beforeapp ication and use of thecomposition, I add to this base a suitable liquid or semilubricant,preferably a lubricating or of good ualit an appropriate case. or.water.' T he a dition of the liquid'ele ment 'orvehicle should not,however, .be

ptfiflcation or Letters Patent. Patented June 14;, 192 1.

made until near the time of use, because the abrading properties of thecomposition would in such case'be reduced or impaired, and theattainment of the desired result rendered uncertain or improbable.

As the composition is to be used for the finishing of various metals andalloys which differ widely in character, and of parts used underdiffering working conditions or in different relations, the compositionwill advisably be made to vary more or less as to theingredients used,as to the relative proportions thereof, and as to the relative finenessof the abrasive ingredient; butthere are certain ingredients that aredeemed essential,

andcertain limits within which the proportions of these-should be kept.These variations and limits will be pointed out as the descriptionproceeds.

For the base the following ingredients are deemed essential and will,without addition other than the liquid element, give good results, towit: potassium, carbonate or -sul-' fate of lead, sodium, and anabrasive, whichlatter may be any one or more of various substances'ofthe'calciumgroup, as marble, limestone, onyx, etc; or ofthe silicongroup, as porphyry, trachyte, quartz, flint, sandstone, or the like; orsilicates, natural or artificial, such as fluorspar, feldspar, fluorid,sand or glass. Combinations of materialsfrom different groups may beused.

Such abrasive substance should, before inclusion in the base, 'bereduced by crushing,

grinding, trituration, or other usual method, to a .granular orpulverulent condition, coarser or finer according to the character ofthe metal of alloy and the place and manner of use, of the part or bodyto be treated.

In practice I have used the abrasive material of such dimensions as willpass through screens varying from 40 to 200 mesh to the square inch, andthis range I deem'deslrable to cover the various appllcations and usesof the composition.

Carborundum and emery do not break down'or work out in use, but continuetdcut or abrade so long aspresent,

and "hence are liable to injure instead of properly finishing themetal-surfaces if any portion of suchjabrasive remain in contact withthe bearing or wearing surface.

' In addition to the ingredients above named I find it at timesadvantageous to includem are unsuitable abrasives for use in thecomposition, as theythe base mixture, carbon in pulverulent form, as forinstance, lamp black, graphite,

' or iron oxid, or 'anyone or more of these.

' position so that it contrasts stronglywith the metallic body orsurface under treatment,

. and makes more evident to the eye the effect and progress of the workor treatment.

The office of the sodium is to assist in producing the soapy mixture,and'in breaking down or neutralizing the cutting. properties of theabrasive element or ingredient under the continued rubbing action.

Iron oxid, of which but a very small quantity is used, if any, tends togivea smooth- .ness to and to improve the action of, the composition.The reason for or the theory of its action has not been clearlyascertained, but its stated effect has been-noted.

The preferred base or dry composition consists of the followingingredients in the proportions, by weight, stated: potash, from 5,} of1% to 3% of the total dry mixture ;"lead carbonate or lead sulfate, from5% to 30%;

- sodium, from i of 1% to 2%%; abrasive material of the characterindicated, from 30% to 92%. If lamp black be employed it should be inthe proportion of from 8% to 12% of the total dry mixture, and if ironoxid be added, it should constitute from 1 of 1% to 1%% of such drymixture. I

These as above indicated, constitute the dry base to which is added,preparatory to application and use, a liquid or semi-liquid lubricant,or' water, which may widely vary in amount, say from 25% to 500% inbulk, additional'or asrelatedto the dry base. In other words, suchlubricant should be equal in bulk to from one-quarter to five times thebulk of the dry ingredients. Such liquid ingredient will preferably bealubricating oil of good quality,.lighter or heavier and of greater orless viscosity according to the character of the metal or alloy treated,the

mass and weightof the parts, and-=similar considerations, such as wouldordinarily determine the selection of a lubricating oil or grease in theparticular situation. Lard oil is preferred, but any medium bodiedengine oil will answer well. Water likewise gives quite satisfactoryresults in, the treatment of some metals and alloys.

As above pointed out, the lamp black and iron oxidmay, either or both,be'used or omitted at will. The comp sition is deemed better with thanwithout them, but they are not nor is either of them, essential. Theyare to be regarded rather as refinements than as necessary ingredients.The same is true as to graphite a .The choice of abrasive material isdependent in a measure upon the character of the metal 'or alloy to betreated. Thus for Babbitt metal, as also for brass or bronze bearings,an abrasive in the calcium or the silicate group is deemed advisable,silicates being preferred and crushed or pulverized glass serving quitewell. For brass valve seats or plugs the abrasive may be of the silicongroup, preferably trachyte.

The composition is also found highly eflicient for removing rust, as forinstance from the barrels of guns, both large and small, pistons,cylinders, and other moving parts of machinery, the abrasive in suchcase being preferably of the silicate group. It is likewise foundadmirably suited to the finishing of engine pistons and cylinders whileon the block, particularly high speed engines in which the crankcaseforms an oil recep-.

tacle. As placed upon the block the cylinders and pistons ofengines,"pumps, and like machines, have relatively rough or rawsurfaceswhich in the testing and working downto commercial shape are very liableto becomescored, and to entail a-quite considerable percentage of loss.By introducing the dry composition into the oil in the crank caSe ,ofsuch high speed engines, or with oil, grease, or water, into thecylinders and bearings of engines, pumps, and similar structures, it istaken up by the liquid or semi-liquid element and distributed over themoving surfaces, where'under the continued movement and-rubbing of theopposed parts,

it polishes the surfaces to a highfinish and produces the necessaryglaze which for actual use should be given to .the moving surfaces. Inthis'way the work is automaticallyor mechanically performed, and with adegree of accuracy diflicult or impossible of attainment by any otherknown means.

As above explained, the effect of the continued rubbing of the conipos'ition is to produce a soapy mixture. his, owing to its peculiarcharacter and properties, gradually and in a measure breaks down theabrasive particles, and ultimately coats any which remain between theopposing surfaces so.

that theylose their cutting power or ca pacity. As a consequence, thecomposition may be permitted to remain between the surfaces to which itis applied where,- owing to the change which takes place through thecontinued rubbing, it is converted into and serves as a lubricant, anyparticles of the abrading material which may remain between saidsurfaces being rendered inert or incapable of cutting, and beingultimately carried oil? by the flooding action of the oil or otherlubricant from time to time supplied to the Wearing surfaces in theregular use of the machine or device. The composition may, however, beremoved when the grinding or finishing action has been carried to thedesired point, and such Wlll bea common procedure though not necessarilya universal one. Gasolene, kerosene; or any similar agent may beemployed for such removal.

The sodium may be used in the form of carbonate, bicarbonate. hydrate,or other.

The potassium is best employed in the form of an oxid, a carbonate, or asulfate.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A composition ofmatter comprising in substantially the proportions stated, po tassium,lead, sodium, an abrasive, and a suitable vehicle, such compositionpossessing initially, cutting or abradln properties, but convertiblethrough a rub ingaction beborate, bi-borate,

tween opposed parts movable relatively one to the other, into alubricating mixture.

2. A dry base for an abrading composition, comprising in substantiallythe proportions and forms stated, potash, lead, sodium, and an abrasivesubstance in finely comminuted form.

3. A dry base for abrading compositions, comprising in substantially theproportions and forms stated, potassium, lead, sodium, lamp black,graphite and iron oxid, and an abrasive substance in finely dividedform, said ingredients being intimately commingled.

4. An abrading composition comprising in substantially the proportionsand forms stated, potash, a lead compound, sodium, an abrasive materialin finely comminuted form, and a lubricant serving as a vehicle for theother ingredients.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH A. MENARD.

